Panaji, Dec 12: The mortal remains of eminent cartoonist Mario Miranda were today consigned to flames after a funeral mass at his village in Loutolim near here.
The 85-year-old cartoonist and Padma Bhushan awardee, whose work spanning over six decades made Goa famous, breathed his last yesterday at his residence in Loutolim village, 40 kms away from here.
He had expressed his wish to his wife that he should be cremated and not buried after his death.
Miranda's coffin was moved from his residence to Saviour of the World Church in the village, where the mass was celebrated by Father Bolmax Pereira.
His final rites were performed at Pajifond crematorium in Margao town, five kms from his village.
Several dignitaries, including Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat attended the last rites of the artist and also visited his family.
Miranda, who received many national and international honours, including ‘Padma Bhushan', the third highest civilian award of the country, in 2002 and Padma Shri in 1988, is survived by wife Habiba and two sons.
Miranda got his first break when ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India' (now defunct) published a few of his cartoons.
He got an opportunity to travel abroad after winning Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian scholarship. He went to Portugal and then to London, where he worked for newspapers and in television animations.
During his career spanning several decades, Miranda illustrated numerous books, including ‘Inside Goa' by Manohar Malgaonkar, ‘A Family in Goa' and ‘The Open Eyes' by Dom Moraes.
